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New Mexico Top Contenders Results

Legacy Promotions is back with there 6th event, New Mexico’s Top Contenders a 9 fight, night of Boxing taking place at the Camel Rock Casino. The main event will see undefeated prospect Augustine Benegas of Las Cruces, NM, against battle tested vet Tony “The Warrior” Valdez of Espanola, NM.

What to Know about the Main Event.

27 year old, Augustine Benegas has fought primarily in New Mexico, Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico; since turning pro back at the end of 2013. Seven weeks ago Benegas improved his record to 9-0 with a unanimous decision win over Alejandro Moreno, a vet of 60+ fights. Tony Valdez is a 35 year old, who has 7 of his 8 wins by knock out. Valdez has fought to the decision win his last 5 fights, going 1-1-3 in that span, with each bout not lacking for excitement. Recently “The Warrior” opened his own gym in Espanola, Valdez Boxing.

Quick Results at the bottom of the page.

Recap of the Action

The night opening bout saw Isidro Castillo leading the dance including a big right uppercut and a right left body to head combination. Justin Flores would not be allowed to continue following the 1st rd.

Fight number 2 was between Cristian Castillo and Angel Avila. Both man worked the jab looking for the follow hook. Castillo was the only of the two working the body. Early in the 2nd a clean right hook would spell the end of Avilla’s night.

Fight 3 has Jose Lius (Josh) Sanchez against Tavorus Teague. From the opening bell it was Sanchez applying pressure and working to cut off the ring. Sanchez has his style would corner an fire away with hooks. Sanchez several times capitalized on Teague drooping levels, enabling Sanchez to score with right hooks to the head. Teague would only throw single punches and in the 5 th was held up the drop. The heavy hooks of Sanchez had taken there tole and Teague wouldn’t leave his corner for the 5th rd.

Fight number 4 pitted Jose Osorio vs John Herrera, a fight that had been scheduled, a few times. John Herrera can land with power, but has a tendency to go into a defensive shell. Osorio put together a jab heavy offense, mixing in uppercuts and hooks to the body. In the later rounds Osorio uncharacteristically started planting his feet looking for the knock out. Even with the brawling moments Osorio’s volume and pressure was the story of their bout.

Fight 5 saw MMA fighter/Boxer Gene Perez of Belen, NM, squaring off with Perez Boxing’s Jesus Xavier Pacheco. The first rd was a braql with both fighter finding the chin. in the 2nd the more technical Boxer Pacheco would capitalize on defensive laps, scoring knock downs with a right hook, right straight, and closing the curtain with a tight left hook.

Fight 6 Joaquin Zamora of Santa Fe, NM, returning to the ring after a 3 year break from competition against Dallas, TX, native Larry “Slow Motion” Smith, a replacement with a weeks notice. Zamora won the first round and took the time to reclamate himself to the ring. Zamora would find his rhythm with combinations and footwork. Smith in terms of offense was only offering long single shot. The Zamora faints and fakes definitely had Smith confused. In the 4th Smith found his opening with 3 rights and a left. Zamora would circle off the ropes and return to jabbing away. As Smith started to find success with his countering left over hand, Zamora adjusted finding home for the southpaws straight left. By the 6th rd, Zamora was a full form blitzing, being light on his feet, and showing off sound D.

Time for the co-main event with Albuquerque’s Jason Sanchez against Sergio Najera. Sanchez started off with his jab, the damage stared coming with powerful left hooks. Najera caught Sanchez twice with a over hand right as the Sanchez lead hand was hanging low. In the 2nd Sanchez lands a flurry starting off with left hook liver, going 6 hard punches. Najera went down an didn’t get back up.

The night main event of Augustine Benegas vs. Tony Valdez quickly became a grudge match after thing got very intense at the weigh-in’s. Valdez got Benegas attention in the 1st round with a big left hook. Benegas took control of the ring in the middle of the 1st. The 2nd round saw Benegas walking down Valdez, who was wearing a bit of damage over his right eye. Valdez got stung and hurt by a liver shot in the 3rd, after taking a right hook to the head. Benegas cuts off the ring, cornering Valdez and going to work with a barrage of hooks. If it wasn’t for the Ropes, Valdez would have gone to the canvas, before the ref jumped in, :30 before the end of round 3.